Universal comp bank and regional servers for use in multi-property casino enterprise

ABSTRACT

A multi-property comp bank allows comp points to be earned and redeemed in an aggregated manner at a plurality of affiliated casino properties. The comp bank includes a first bank account of comp points for each casino patron having a balance that is visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, and directly redeemable by the patron, and a second bank account of comp points having a balance that is invisible to the patron, accessible only by authorized casino employees, and redeemable on a discretionary basis only by authorized casino employees. Each award of comp points is apportioned between the patron&#39;s first and second bank accounts according to a predetermined ratio. The comp points in the first bank account can be aggregated across properties and redeemed at any property, whereas the comp points in the second bank account can be redeemed only at the property where they were earned .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the casino industry has evolved from being an industryof independent, unaffiliated casino properties to an industry ofaffiliated casino properties. In some instances, such as Harrah's, allof the casino properties have an identical corporate name and identity.In other instances, such as Station Casinos, Inc. and Park PlaceEntertainment (PPE), the casino properties have individual names but asingle corporate identity (e.g., Palace Station Hotel & Casino, aStation Casinos property, The Flamingo, a PPE property). In yet otherinstances, independent casino properties have joined with each other toform loose networks with common marketing programs.

Most affiliated casino properties have now instituted player clubswherein a single player card can be used at any of the affiliated casinoproperties. The player clubs allows patrons to aggregate comp dollars,cashback awards, and the like, earned at each of the affiliatedproperties and to make redemptions at any affiliated property. Someplayer clubs provide kiosks to allow patrons to directly access theiraccount of comp dollars and redeem comp dollars. This type of scheme maybe referred to as a “visible comp program.” (Comps are complimentarygifts used by casinos to reward players to gamble. Typical comps includefree or discounted room, food and beverage, free travel and the like.)

Other player clubs withhold comp account data from the patrons andprovide it only to authorized casino personnel. This type of scheme maybe referred to as an “invisible comp program.” In an invisible compprogram, if a player requests a comp at a hospitality desk or bydirectly asking a host or hostess, the patron's account is reviewed anda discretionary decision is made by casino personnel as to whether acomp can be offered. Upon acceptance of a comp, the casino personneladjusts the account accordingly.

Individual casino properties also have comp programs that have a visibleand invisible component. Earned comp points are apportioned between avisible account that the patron may access at a kiosk, and an invisibleaccount that can only be accessed by authorized casino personnel.Multi-property player clubs such as Harrah's have invisible compprograms that provide both enterprise-level comp accounts and individualproperty comp accounts.

Visible and invisible comp accounts each have logistical andpsychological advantages and disadvantages. A well-designed comp programpreferably should include both visible and invisible comp accounts. Newlogistical issues have arisen as comp programs have moved fromindividual property and regional approaches to total enterpriseapproaches.

Despite the proliferation of different types of multi-property playerclubs with different visible and invisible components, there is still aneed for a more flexible enterprise level, multi-property player clubthat can maintain visible and invisible components in the same program,minimize the need for communications among properties when checkingenterprise-level comp account balances and redeeming enterprise-levelearned comps, and still allow individual casino properties within theenterprise to have some degree of autonomy with respect to their compprograms. The present invention fulfills such needs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multi-property comp bank is provided which allows comp points to beearned and redeemed in an aggregated manner at a plurality of affiliatedcasino properties. The comp bank includes two constituents, namely afirst bank account of comp points for each casino patron having abalance that is visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, anddirectly redeemable by the patron, and a second bank account of comppoints having a balance that is invisible to the patron, accessible onlyby authorized casino employees, and redeemable on a discretionary basisonly by authorized casino employees. Each award of comp points isapportioned between the patron's first and second bank accountsaccording to a predetermined ratio. The comp points in the first bankaccount can be aggregated across properties and redeemed at anyproperty, whereas the comp points in the second bank account can only beredeemed at the property in which they were earned. A plurality ofregional computers are provided for implementing the multi-property compbank. Each regional computer is associated with a predefined number ofaffiliated casino properties in a particular geographical region. Eachregional computer stores bank accounts of comp points for each casinopatron of an affiliated casino property who is an active player in therespective region. Upon receiving a comp points balance or redemptionrequest of a patron at one of the affiliated casino properties, theregional computer associated with the affiliated casino propertycommunicates with each of the other regional computers that containsbank accounts for the same patron to obtain the comp points balance forthe patron in each of the other regional computers. In this manner, therequesting regional computer thereby obtains the total comp pointsbalance for the patron within the casino enterprise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above summary, as well as the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment of the invention, will be better understood whenread in conjunction with the following drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, the drawings show embodiments that arepresently preferred. It should be understood that the invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network of regional servers forimplementing a universal comp bank in accordance with one preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the data elements in a patron identityserver populated with sample data to illustrate its function, inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an overview of the data elements in a patron comp bankpopulated with sample data to illustrate its function, in accordancewith one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4E show sample display screens for one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 5-8 show detailed system diagrams for one preferred embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. In the drawings, thesame reference letters are employed for designating the same elementsthroughout the several figures.

1. Overview of Present Invention

A first embodiment of the present invention allocates awarded comppoints to casino patrons of a casino enterprise having a plurality ofaffiliated casino properties. Each comp point has a predetermined dollarvalue, such as $1.00. Each casino patron has an account number. Toimplement the first embodiment, a first bank account of comp points isprovided for each casino patron account number. The balance of the firstbank account is visible to the patron, accessible by the patron, anddirectly redeemable by the patron. A second bank account of comp pointsis provided for each casino patron account number. The balance of thesecond bank account is invisible to the patron, accessible only byauthorized casino employees, and redeemable on a discretionary basisonly by authorized casino employees. Patron comp points are awarded forselected gaming activity at any affiliated property of the casinoenterprise. For each award of comp points, the awarded comp points areapportioned between the patron's first and second bank accountsaccording to a predetermined ratio. The comp points in the first bankaccount are redeemable on a multi-property basis, whereas the secondbank account of comp points are accumulated and redeemable only on anindividual property basis.

The comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity are preferablyawarded based on theoretical win for the gaming activity or a percentageof the total dollars spent on the gaming activity. Comp points may alsobe awarded for selected non-gaming activity at any affiliated propertyof the casino enterprise. The point balance in the first bank accountpreferably cannot become negative, but the point balance in the secondbank account preferably is allowed to become negative.

A second embodiment of the present invention stores, tracks and redeemsawarded comp points of casino patrons of a casino enterprise having aplurality of affiliated casino properties. The comp points areredeemable on a multi-property basis. Each point has a predetermineddollar value. Each casino patron has an account number. To implement thesecond embodiment, each affiliated casino property is associated with apredefined geographical region. A plurality of regional computers areprovided. Each regional computer is associated with one of thepredefined geographical regions. Preferably, each affiliated casinoproperty has a local casino management system (CMS) connected to itsrespective regional computer. Each regional computer stores bankaccounts of comp points for each casino patron of an affiliated casinoproperty who is an active player in the respective region. Awarded comppoints are posted to patron bank accounts in the regional computerassociated with the affiliated casino property where the comp pointswere earned. Upon receiving a comp points balance or redemption requestof a patron at one of the affiliated casino properties, the regionalcomputer associated with the affiliated casino property communicateswith each of the other regional computers that contains bank accountsfor the same patron to obtain the comp points balance for the patron ineach of the other regional computers. The requesting regional computerthereby obtains the total comp points balance for the patron within thecasino enterprise. Preferably, only the comp points balance informationand the oldest earned point date stored at the other regional computersis communicated to the requesting regional computer. Upon receiving acomp points redemption request, the requested comp points are redeemedfrom the comp points balance at one or more of the patron bank accountsupon confirmation that the total comp points balance within the casinoenterprise is not less than the redemption request. The comp pointsbalance is then updated at the one or more patron bank accounts.

When a patron is actively playing at an affiliated casino propertyassociated with a region, no record locking occurs with respect to thecasino patron's bank accounts at other regional computers. In thismanner, simultaneous play of the same patron account number is allowedto occur at affiliated casino properties in different geographicregions.

Each local patron account number may be assigned a universal patronidentifier number (UID), and each UID may have more than one localpatron account number. If so, at each regional server, a record ismaintained of which UBD's exist in each of the other regional servers.Inter-regional communications occur only with the regional computersthat contain UID's of the patron requesting the comp points balance orcomp points redemption.

2. Detailed Description

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a network of regional servers 10 (10_(R1), 10 _(R2), 10 _(R3)) for implementing a universal comp bank inaccordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention. Eachregional server 10 may communicate with each other via communicationmedium 12, which may be any form of wired or wireless medium, includingInternet connections. Each regional server may also communicate with anenterprise-level patron identity server 14, as discussed in more detailbelow. Each regional server includes a patron comp bank 16, a patronidentity database 18, and a priority table 20. Each regional server isin real-time or near real-time communication with one or more localcasino properties 22. Each local casino property 22 has its own localcasino management system 24.

The patron identity server 14 is similar to the patron identity serverdescribed in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/188,154, filed Jul.1, 2002, entitled “Local Casino Management System Populating andUpdating Process,” now U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2004/0002388, published Jan.1, 2004, which is incorporated by referencein its entirety.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the data elements in the patron identityserver 14 populated with sample data to illustrate its function. Thepatron identity server 14 includes every universal patron identifiernumber (UID) assigned to a local account number, and the related locallyassigned patron account number and patron identifying information foreach of the UID's. The patron identity server 14 further includes afield indicating which of the local casino properties 22 have a patronrecord that matches the locally assigned patron account number. The dataelements in the patron identity server 14 are periodically sent to eachof the regional servers 10 and stored in the patron identity database ateach regional server 10. Each regional server 10 also includesinformation (not shown) regarding which regions are associated with eachlocal casino property. This information may be contained within thepatron identity database 18, or elsewhere in the regional server 10. Inthis manner, each regional server 10 may independently determine whichother local casino properties 22 have data records for a respectivepatron, and thereby avoid unnecessary communications with other regionalservers 10 which do not contain any information regarding a particularpatron when a comp point balance lookup or redemption is requested.

FIG. 3 shows an overview of the data elements in a patron comp bank 16populated with sample data to illustrate its function. The example ofFIG. 3 shows the patron comp bank 16 in the regional server 10 _(R1) ofregion 1. Also, in this example, region 1 has only two local casinoproperties, R1 ₁ and R1 ₂. The patron comp bank 16 includes comp pointsfor only the patrons that are active in region 1. For example, region 1may include all properties west of the Mississippi river. Patron 1234who lives in Madison, Wis., and patron 1889 (also, the same as patron0437) who lives in Austin, Tex. both frequent casino properties inregion 1, and thus both are present in the region 1 patron comp bank 16.Patron 1667 is a New York resident and has not yet visited a region 1casino property. The comp bank account for patron 1667 will be presentin one or more of the other regional comp banks 16.

FIG. 3 also illustrates some additional features of the presentinvention. The comp bank has at least two components, a first bankbalance of visible, cross-property earned and redeemable comp points(also, referred to interchangeably as Bank A or Bucket A), and a secondbank balance of patron invisible comp points (also, referred tointerchangeably as Bank B or Bucket B) which are preferably earned andredeemed only on an individual property basis. In this example, visibleand invisible points are earned using a 2:1 ratio (i.e., for everyearned point, ⅔ of the point is credited to Bank A and ⅓ of the point iscredited to Bank B).

Patron 1234 is active at both local casino properties and has earned 30comp points at local casino property R1 ₁ (divided up 20/10 between BankA and Bank B) and 60 comp points at local casino property R1 ₂ (dividedup 40/20 between Bank A and Bank B), and has never redeemed any comppoints. Patron 1889 is only active at local casino property R1 ₁ and hasalso earned 30 comp points at local casino property R1 ₁ (divided up20/10 between Bank A and Bank B). Patron 1889 has redeemed all of thepatron visible Bank A comp points, but has not redeemed any of thepatron invisible comp points, either because the patron has notrequested any comps above and beyond what the patron was allowed tospend in the visible comp bank account, or because a request for compsabove and beyond that amount was denied by casino personnel. (Casinopersonnel have discretion in redeeming the invisible comp points.)Patron 0437 is also only active at local casino property R1 ₁ and hasearned at least 30 comp points. The local casino property R1 ₁ hasredeemed all of the at least 10 invisible comp points previously earnedby patron 0437. The local casino properties may redeem invisible comppoints even if the patron has unredeemed visible comp points.

The priority table 20 defines the rules regarding how cross-property(Bank A) comp points are to be taken from each of the regional serverswhen a redemption request is made for Bank A comp points.

One preferred set of inter-regional order of redemption rules uses afirst-in, first out (FIFO) redemption scheme, as described in theappendices below. A strict FIFO redemption scheme would require asignificant amount of communications among the regional servers 10because the date earned of each comp point would have to be associatedwith each comp point and communicated to the regional server 10 during apoints redemption process. The redeeming regional server 10 may need totake points from a plurality of different other regional servers 10,which, in turn, would then have to perform their own reconciliations. Tolessen the complexity of the redemption process, a modified FIFO orderof redemption scheme may be used, as follows:

-   -   1. The date earned of each comp point is individually stored as        described in the appendices.    -   2. When regional servers 10 receive a request for their total        comp points from a requesting regional server 10, the date of        the oldest point stored at each regional server 10 (“oldest earn        date”) is returned with the total comp points.    -   3. The requesting regional server 10 identifies the regional        server 10 having the oldest earn date and reviews its        inter-regional priority scheme.    -   4. If the inter-regional priority scheme for the redeeming        regional server 10 gives the same priority to all regions (i.e.,        same “order of redemption”), then comp points are redeemed first        from the points of the regional server 10 having the oldest earn        date. If there are remaining points to be redeemed, redemptions        occur from the regional server 10 having the next oldest earn        date, and so on. While this scheme may cause some comp points to        be redeemed out of the order in which they were earned, on the        average and over the long run, this scheme will provide a        redemption order close to a FIFO scheme while significantly        reducing the amount of inter-regional communications and data        processing steps that must be performed by the redeeming        regional server 10.

Another set of inter-regional rules is to first redeem comp points frompatron bank accounts in the regional server associated with theaffiliated local casino property that initiated the redemption requestor which will be providing the item or service in exchange for thepoints redemption, and then second redeem comp points from bank accountsin the next closest regional server. For example, a west coast regionalserver 10 may specify that west coast points are to be used first,followed by east cost points (from an east coast regional server 10),and then mid-south points (from a mid-south regional server 10).

Each regional server 10 may have its own inter-regional priority scheme.Thus, one regional server 10 may have an equal priority scheme asdescribed above, whereas another regional server 10 may follow aspecific regional priority rule.

Each regional server 10 also includes rules regarding how to allocatepoint redemptions among the individual local casino property accounts ofa redeeming patron for bank accounts within the region. One preferredset of inter-regional rules is to redeem based on a strict FIFO basis,or on a modified FIFO basis as described above. Another set ofintra-regional rules is to first redeem comp points from the patron bankaccount in the regional server of the local casino property associatedwith the affiliated local casino property that initiated the redemptionrequest or which will be providing the item or service in exchange forthe points redemption, and then second redeem comp points from bankaccounts in the other local casino properties in the regional server ona proportional basis. Intra-regional rules are not as critical asinter-regional rules, since no regional server communications arenecessary for this process. The intra-regional rules also lessen thecommunication load on the process since the regional computers 10 do notneed to communicate with each other to allocate points among their ownlocal properties. For example, if the west coast regional server 10needs to take 100 points from patron accounts in the east coast regionalserver 10, the communication message from the west coast server to theeast coast server merely consists of the information “Send me 100points,” and the reply is simply “Here are 100 points.” Likewise, thereturn reply is simply, “I took the 100 points. Subtract them from yourpatron account(s).” The points allocation that occurs in the east coastserver and the reconciliation and points allocation in the west coastserver can then be performed offline.

Each regional server 10 may have its own intra-regional allocationrules. The scope of the present invention includes other possibleinter-regional priority rules and intra-regional allocation rules.

When a patron at a local casino property 22 requests a comp pointbalance (either in anticipation of a redemption, or merely to find outwhat the current balance is), the following steps occur:

-   -   1. The regional server 10 associated with the local casino        property 22 accesses its patron comp bank 16 and tallies up all        of the Bank A comp points in each of the local casino properties        22 associated with the regional server 10.    -   2. The regional server 10 also queries the patron identity        database 18 to identify any other regional servers 10 that have        patron records associated with the requesting patron. If any are        identified, then the regional server 10 communicates with the        other regional servers 10, and each of the other regional        servers 10 sends back a Bank A comp point total from its        respective patron comp bank 16.    -   3. The requesting regional server 10 tallies up all of the comp        points, including its own, and presents a single available comp        point total to the patron.    -   4. If the patron immediately thereafter requests a redemption of        points that does not exceed the available total, then the        redemption is processed using the priority table rules as        discussed above.

If the patron at a local casino property 22 makes a subsequent requestfor a comp point balance (either in anticipation of another redemption,or merely to find out what the latest current balance is), the stepsdescribed above are repeated. The current available comp point total isnot permanently stored. However, in one alternative embodiment, if thesubsequent request occurs almost immediately after the previous request,it is presumed that the total Bank A comp point total has not changedsince the last request. Therefore, the previously calculated availablecomp point total is used and steps 1-3 are not repeated.

If the patron is requesting a balance or redemption from a locationother than a local casino property 22 that is always in near instantcommunication with its regional server 10 (e.g., a remote kiosk, atelephone, a browser), then another server (not shown) takes over thecommunication and processing functions of the regional server 10.Alternatively, all such off-property requests may be automaticallyrouted to a specific regional server 10 for processing.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, Bank A comppoints are constantly aggregated at each regional server 10, and only asingle aggregated value is stored, instead of being kept separately foreach local casino property 22. In this manner, the balance or redemptionrequest can be simplified since the total number at each regional server10 is precalculated and no allocation has to occur among individualproperty bank accounts held in the same regional server as part of aredemption process. However, it may still be necessary to communicatewith other regional servers 10 to obtain a total, cross-propertyenterprise-level Bank A comp point total.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Bank B comppoints are earned and redeemed only an individual property basis, andthus separate Bank B comp point accounts for each local property must bemaintained for each patron. This scheme allows patrons and local casinoproperties 22 to develop and maintain a personalized relationship, sinceeach local casino property 22 will be able to personally reward a localcasino patron with hidden comps that cannot be offered by other casinoproperties within the same enterprise. Furthermore, the local casinoproperty 22 may optionally be provided with the discretion to allow BankB points to go negative, thereby allowing the local casino properties tomake personal assessments and take personal risks on particular casinopatron that the local properties deems is worthy of such a risk. In analternative embodiment of the present invention, the bank accountbalance of cross-property (Bank A) points may also be allowed to gonegative.

As discussed above, comp points may be awarded for gaming and non-gamingactivity. The comp points awarded for gaming activity are awarded basedon theoretical win for the gaming activity or a percentage of the totaldollars spent on the gaming activity. For certain gaming activity, thesecomp points will be the same. However, these comp points may differ forselected gaming activity, such as when the hold on a slot machinediffers from the preset ratio of dollars spent to comp points earned.Comp points may also be awarded for selected non-gaming activity at anyaffiliated property of the casino enterprise, such as food and beveragepurchases, merchandise (retail) purchases, show ticket purchases, andother non-gaming services provided by the casino enterprise. Comp pointawarding and redemptions may also be tied into enterprise-levelpromotions in the same manner as cashback program promotions.

The comp points awarded for non-gaming activity may be treated in twodifferent ways. In one scheme, the non-gaming comp points may beapportioned between the visible and invisible bank accounts in the samemanner as the gaming activity comp points. In another scheme, the awardof comp points for non-gaming activity may be placed entirely in thefirst bank account. The patrons may be informed via promotionalmaterials that all non-gaming activity will result in a cashback-typeaward of comp points. For example, 2% of the value of all non-gamingmoney spent will be automatically deposited into the patron-accessiblecomp bank.

In an alternative embodiment, the comp points awarded for non-gamingactivity are restricted to preferred patrons (e.g., patrons whoseoverall gaming activity exceed a predetermined threshold, and/or whohave attained a predetermined status within the casino enterprise, suchas a bronze, silver or gold status). In this alternative scheme, thecomp points are not immediately credited to the patron's account, butinstead are posted to the patron's account at selected intervals.

Inter-regional server communications for comp point balance inquiriesand redemptions are preferably limited to comp point values only. Patronactivity data, such as detailed ratings information, are preferably notcommunicated during such inquiries and redemptions. In this manner, thevolume of communicated data is kept to a minimum.

The use of regional servers for maintaining comp accounts in thespecific configuration described herein allows a single account to beactive in multiple regions. Due to the manner in which comp pointbalance inquiries and redemptions are handled, there is no need to lockpatron records across the enterprise. Other enterprise-level casinomanagement systems that rely on a single, central database formaintaining comp accounts may need to lock a patron account if thepatron is active at one property, thereby preventing another patron(e.g., a spouse or family member) from using the same account at thesame time at another local property.

Points in the universal comp bank may be redeemable for retail purchasesin some regions.

The universal comp bank described above may coexist with other promotionschemes of the casino enterprise, such as a cashback program. In thismanner, patrons may earn both comps and cash for gaming activity, aswell as comps for non-gaming activity.

The following three appendices provide a detailed disclosure of onepreferred commercially viable implementation of the present invention.This implementation is described in the following appendices at threedifferent levels, namely, an overview level (Appendix A), anapplications specifications level (Appendix B), and a programmingspecifications level (Appendix C). The discussion of “Trillium” files inthe appendices is best understood in view of the disclosure in thecopending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/188,154 discussed above.(Trillium Software® is a commercially available product. TrilliumSoftware is a division of Harte-Hanks, Billerica, Mass. Other identitymatching software that perform the same functions as the TrilliumSoftware may be used as well and are within the scope of the presentinvention.) The preferred embodiments described in the appendices referto an implementation of the present invention for casino propertiesaffiliated with Park Place Entertainment. Some of the documentation isdescribed in the context of changes that were made to a prior artmulti-property points accumulation and redemption program. In thatprogram, there was only one regional point server connected to aplurality of regionally located casino properties, and all points weremaintained in a single universal comp bank. In contrast to this priorart scheme, the present invention apportions comp points into visibleand invisible buckets, and further provides for a plurality of regionalpoint servers that communicate with each other in a specific manner tominimize the number and volume of inter-regional communications.

The present invention may be implemented with any combination ofhardware and software. If implemented as a computer-implementedapparatus, the present invention is implemented using means forperforming all of the steps and functions described above.

The present invention may be implemented with any combination ofhardware and software. The present invention can be included in anarticle of manufacture (e.g., one or more computer program products)having, for instance, computer useable media. The media has embodiedtherein, for instance, computer readable program code means forproviding and facilitating the mechanisms of the present invention. Thearticle of manufacture can be included as part of a computer system orsold separately.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that thisinvention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but itis intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

1. A computer-implemented method of allocating awarded comp points tocasino patrons of a casino enterprise having a plurality of affiliatedcasino properties, each comp point having a predetermined dollar value,each casino patron having an account number, the method comprising: (a)providing a first bank account of comp points for each casino patronaccount number, the balance of the first bank account being visible tothe patron, accessible by the patron, and directly redeemable by thepatron, the comp points in the first bank account being redeemable on amulti-property basis; (b) providing a second bank account of comp pointsfor each casino patron account number, the balance of the second bankaccount being invisible to the patron, accessible only by authorizedcasino employees, and redeemable on a discretionary basis only byauthorized casino employees, the comp points in the second bank accountbeing redeemable only on an individual property basis; (c) awarding apatron comp points for selected gaming activity at any affiliatedproperty of the casino enterprise; and (d) for each award of comppoints, apportioning the awarded comp points between the patron's firstand second bank accounts according to a predetermined ratio.
 2. Themethod of claim 1 wherein step (c) further comprises awarding a patroncomp points for selected non-gaming activity at any affiliated propertyof the casino enterprise; and step (d) further comprises for each awardof comp points for selected non-gaming activity, placing the entireawarded comp points in the first bank account.
 3. The method of claim 2wherein comp points awarded for non-gaming activity are restricted topreferred patrons.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the comp pointsawarded for at least some gaming activity are awarded based ontheoretical win for the gaming activity.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein the comp points awarded for at least some gaming activity areawarded based on a percentage of the total dollars spent on the gamingactivity.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the point balance in thefirst bank account cannot become negative, and the point balance in thesecond bank account is allowed to become negative.